Label follower mechanism



Aug. 15, 1933.

J. o. FENNER LABEL FOLLOWER MECHANISM Filed June 15, 1951 73277286 uFerznefl Patented Aug. 15, 1933 I UNITED STATES LABEL FOLLGWER MECHANISM James Omri Fenner, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Economic Machinery Company, Worcester, Mass a Corporation of Massachusetts Application June 15, 1931.

i Claims.

This invention relates to an improved label following mechanism which is used in the present instance in connection with a label affixing ma chine.

In this type of structure the labels are successively withdrawn from the bottom of the pack by a swinging picker or plate as is clearly disclosed in the patent to Ehvall, No. 1,630,235, 12). It has been found that the label follower must be yieldable to a certain extent yet positive enough in its final resisting qualities to evenly press the bottom label to the adhesively covered picking finger.

It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide a so-called follower lip which coaots with the rod of the label follower or pressure plate to positively resist the upward movement of the plate incidental to the picking of the lowermost label.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a locking lip which may be readily released whenever desired to replenish the supply of labels within the magazine or holder.

These and other objects will readily present themselves to those skilled in this particular art when reading the following description in connection with the attached drawing, wherein similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the label following mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the follower lip showing more clearly the binding action between the lip and the associated bar; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the follower lip.

In the drawing 10 represents a standard of the machine in which the follower mechanism is to be used. The standard is provided with a laterally extending pair of bars 1l11 which are adapted to form the support for the label magazine 12. This magazine may be of any approved construction, but for the salte of illustration, there is suggested a plurality of pins 13 for supporting the stack of labels 1%. These pins are so constructed as to readily permit the lowermost label to be withdrawn from the pack. Here again for the purpose of clarity there is suggested a pivotally mounted label picker 15 which is adapted to adhesively pick the lowermost label when the picker is in its upward position. This structure is clearly suggested in the patent above mentioned.

The standard 10 is furthermore provided with an arm 16 on which a guide block 1'? is adjustably mounted. The block 17 is secured in its ap- Serial No. 544,625

propriate position on the arm 16 by the clamping screw 18. Slidaloly guided within the block 17 is a follower rod 19 which at its lower end is connected to a follower plate 20. The upper end of said rod 19 is provided with a yieldable finger or pin 21 for a purpose hereinafter disclosed.

Rigidly connected to the guide block 17 and extending upwardly therefrom is a bar 22. Slidably mounted on the bar 22 is a follower lip 23 which has an extended portion adapted to overlie the upper end of the yieldable finger 21 carried by the follower rod 19. The follower lip 23 is provided with an elongated opening 24 through which the bar 22 extends. Also located within the opening 24 and arranged to coact with the bar 22 is a cam member or roller 25. Extending through this roller 25, in an off center relation thereto, is a pivot pin 26, which pin has its bearings in the side portions of the follower lip adjacent the opening 24. This roller or cam member will permit the follower lip to freely descend in keeping with the gradual descending action of the follower rod when the labels are being withdrawn from the magazine, but will effectively resist upward movement of the follower rod after the yieldable finger or pin has been compressed. The limited range of upward movement afforded by the use of the finger or pin 21 has been found to have its advantages in labeling machines wherein the labels are mechanically picked from the bottom. of the pack as the initial contact or pressure of the picker arm is absorbed by such yielding action.

It will readily be appreciated that the follower lip may be easily released from its clamping action by simply reaching under the lip and applying a slight pressure against the lower face of the roller.

What I desire to claim by U. S. Letters Patent 1s:

1. In a label follower mechanism comprising a follower bar, a follower rod, a follower lip slidably mounted on the follower bar and extending over the upper end of the rod, and a member pivotally carried by the follower lip and coacting with the follower bar to automatically resist upward movement of said lip on said bar when pressure is exerted on the lip by the follower rod.

2. In a label follower mechanism comprising a follower bar, a follower rod, a follower lip slidably mounted on the follower bar and extending over the upper end of the rod, and a curved faced member eccentrically mounted on the follower lip and coacting with the follower 4. In a label follower mechanism comprising a follower bar, a follower rod, a follower lip slidably mounted on the follower bar and extending over the upper end of the rod, and an eccentrically mounted member carried by the follower lip and coacting with the follower bar to permit progressive downward movement and to automatically resist upward movement of said lip on said bar in accordance with the pressure exerted on the lip by the follower rod.

JAMES OMRI FENNER. 

